So, you've decided a condo is right for your lifestyle and you're pre-approved for a mortgage, but what's the next step?

Viki Fairbairn, a REALTOR® and certified condominium specialist with Royal LePage Benchmark in Calgary, says buying a condo differs from buying a house, so it's important to find the right Realtor to take you through the process.

With Calgary's condo market experiencing a period of oversupply, determining how to make the best deal, whether you're a seller or a buyer, is crucial. That starts with assessing the many factors that can affect a condo's resale value, says Vijay Thankey, a REALTOR® with RE/MAX Realty Professionals.

As Calgary's real estate market continues its recovery from an extended period of recession, there is at least one niche segment that has weathered the storm: lofts.

Alternative power sources for off-the-grid acreage living

Alternative energy sources like wind and solar were once viewed as novel concepts that would never become practical for the average homeowner. Alternative energy sources like wind and solar were once viewed as novel concepts that would never become practical for the average homeowner. However, for many acreage owners and other rural residents, going off the grid – living in a self-sufficient manner without reliance on one or more public utilities – is catching on in a variety of forms.

Experts say you should buy a home with your head and not your heart, but it's easy to get caught up in the excitement when you find a home that seems perfect for you.

That's why a home inspection is a crucial step. It can uncover problems that might require walking away from a potential purchase, or at least mean reassessing your offer.

Next to "location, location, location," the truest maxim in real estate is "change, change, change." While your first home is a milestone, keeping pace with your changing needs is about making all the right moves.

"Move-up buyers have been through the process before and know what they want," said Michael Winiarz, vice-president of sales and marketing for Mattamy Homes in Calgary.

Almost 20 years ago with the advent of Seaside, a live, work and play development with a village-type feel on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico in northwest Florida, the philosophy of new urbanism took root.

Based on concepts espoused by renowned urban planner, Jane Jacobs – who designed Greenwich Village in New York City – new urbanism takes the inner-city vibe and brings it to the suburbs. The concept is rooted in historical village-style planning structure, with a central amenity pool in the village centre and high-density housing peppered throughout. It's a design that draws people out of their homes, and walkability is a central feature. This provides a downtown feel and downtown-style amenities, and the concept is catching on big time in Calgary.